Apparatus and method for measuring and using response to SNMP requests to provide real-time network parameter estimates in a network management zone

ABSTRACT

Method creates Real-Time Estimates (RTE) of network parameters for responsive resources of a network management zone (NMZ) by sending requests in a management protocol and uses those real-time estimates to present a resource map of the NMZ, possibly altering a responsive resource, possibly posting a service schedule request. The invention includes implementation mechanisms and installation packages. The RTE of network parameter is a product of the process. Constructing a quality of service measure from RTE of at least two network parameters. Quality of service measure as a product of the process. The quality of service measure may include or be the Mean Opinion Score.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication 60/859,671, filed Nov. 16, 2007, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to network management methods and mechanismsusing a management protocol compatible Simple Network ManagementProtocol to provide real-time analysis of media stream capabilities innetworks, in particular, to observing responsiveness to requests tocreate and use real-time estimates of network parameters for responsiveresources in a network management zone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention will focus on the real-time measure and use of mediastream performance and capacities in a network zone. Before going intothe invention's summary and disclosure, this background will address thefollowing topics. What are real-time media streams over a network? Howare media stream capabilities analyzed today? What is the Simple NetworkManagement Protocol (SNMP)? And lastly, what are the problems with thecurrently available approaches?

The networking industry is rapidly converting to providing real-timemedia stream services, including Voice over IP (VoIP) and live videoover EP. Today such services are typically packet based and create somestrong demands on networks: Networks must provide low packet latenciesso the information is able to arrive at the receiver's location rapidly.The incurred latency must also be stable (low jitter) so packets arriveat the receiver's location at regular intervals. Networks must also havevery low packet loss so enough information is available to reconstructthe communications activity.

-   -   These VoIP telephone services are rapidly expanding worldwide        and threatening traditional telephone services because they        mimic ordinary telephone devices and use, but provide very        affordable and reliable calling. Typical plans cost $29 a month        for simple unlimited calling free throughout the United States        and Canada, and exceptionally low per-minute rates to Europe and        Asia. Some of the telephone sets can implemented as downloadable        software to a laptop computer with a microphone and headphones,        and other configurations allow ordinary telephones to be plugged        in with a standard RJ-11 modular jack to a home broadband        router, e.g., a Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GP2A-AT with two VoIP        jacks.    -   Businesses are now able to set-up virtual Public Branch eXchange        (PBX) networks in which some of the company's subscriber        “extensions” are actually located at an employee's home and        connected through a typical Linksys or Netgear broadband router.        Such routers are ubiquitous in American and European homes, and        a large fraction of these already support simple network        protocol (SNMP) communication. Only the very inexpensive VoIP        adapters do not already include SNMP.

Global communication network operators, located at a few centralizednetwork management centers, are relying more and more on automatednetwork management applications to analyze, process, display and supporttheir networks. An increasing number of network management softwareapplications are being marketed that use open-system standardizedprotocols. Particular network application tool software is possible toreport lists of the network appliances, by location, and can issuetrouble lists and keep track of software versions and releases. SNMPapplications are conventionally used to issue alarms to centralmanagement consoles when remote network appliances fail.

According to the Carnegie-Mellon Software Engineering Institute, SNMP isa network management specification developed by the Internet EngineeringTask Force (IETF) in the mid 1980s to provide standard, simplified, andextensible management of LAN-based internetworking products such asbridges, routers, and wiring concentrators. An object was to reduce thecomplexity of network management, and to minimize the resources neededto support it. SNMP provides for centralized, robust, interoperablenetwork management, along with the flexibility to allow for themanagement of vendor-specific information. SNMP as a communicationspecification defines how management information can be exchangedbetween network management applications and management agents. There areseveral versions of SNMP, two of the most common are SNMPv1, and SNMPv2.SNMPv1 is a simple message-based request/response application-layerprotocol that uses the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) for data delivery.

-   -   SNMPv1 network management architecture includes a Network        Management Station (NMS) workstation to hosts the network        management application. The SNMPv1 network management        application polls management agents for information and provides        control information to agents.    -   A Management Information Base (MIB) defines the information that        to be collected and controlled by the management application.        Each SNMPv1 management agent provides information contained in        the MIB to the management applications and can accept control        information. The MIB is a database of managed objects residing        on the agent. Managed objects can be monitored, modified or        controlled, e.g., a threshold, network address or counter.    -   The management application or user can define the relationship        between the SNMPv1 manager and the management agent.    -   The GET_NEXT_REQUEST requests the next object instance from a        table or list from an agent. The GET_RESPONSE is the returned        answer to get_next_request, get_request, or set_request. The        GET_REQUEST asks for the value of an object instance from the        agent.    -   The SET_REQUEST fixes the value of an object instance within an        agent.    -   The TRAP sends trap (event) asynchronously to network management        application. Agents can conditionally send a trap when a trigger        has occurred, e.g., a change in state of a device, device        failure or agent initialization/restart. SNMP specifies the        protocol to be used between a network management application and        each management agent. It allows software and managed devices        from different vendors to be managed by one SNMP network        management application. A “proxy function” in SNMP enables        communication with non-SNMP devices to accommodate legacy        equipment.    -   SNMP is simple to implement, and does not require large        computational or memory resources from the devices that do        accommodate it. SNMP network management is based on polling and        asynchronous events. Each SNMP manager polls for information        gathered by the agents. Each agent collects local information        and stores it in the agent's own MIB. Such information is then        sent later to the SNMP manager in response to the manager's        polling. SNMP events (alerts) are driven by trap messages        generated as a result of certain device parameters. These        parameters can be either generic or vendor device specific.        Enterprise-specific trap messages are vendor proprietary and        generally provide more device-specific detail.    -   SNMPv1 has been incorporated into many products and management        platforms. It has been deployed by virtually all internet        working vendors. It has been widely adopted for the enterprise        business organization networks. It is well-suited for managing        TCP/IP networks. SNMPv1 uses the underlying User Datagram        Protocol (UDP) for data delivery, which does not ensure        reliability of data transfer. The loss of data may be a        limitation to a network manager, depending on the criticality of        the information being gathered and the frequency at which the        polling is being performed.    -   SNMP is best suited for network monitoring and capacity        planning. SNMP does not provide even the basic troubleshooting        information that can be obtained from simple network        troubleshooting tools. SNMP agents do not analyze information,        they just collect information and provide it to the network        management application.    -   SNMPv1 has minimal security capability. Because SNMPv1 lacks the        control of unauthorized access to critical network devices and        systems, it may be necessary to restrict the use of SNMP        management to non-critical networks. Lack of authentication in        SNMPv1 has led many vendors to not include certain commands,        thus reducing extensibility and consistency across managed        devices. SNMPv2 addresses these security problems but is        difficult and expensive to set up and administer (e.g., each MIB        must be locally set up).    -   Vendors often include SNMP agents with their software and public        domain agents are available. Management applications are        available from a variety of vendors as well as the public        domain, however they can differ greatly in terms of        functionality, plots and visual displays.    -   SNMP out-of-the-box cannot be used to track information        contained in application/user level protocols (e.g., radar track        message, http, mail). However these might be accomplished        through the use of an extensible (customized) SNMP agent that        has user defined MIB. It is important to note that a specialized        or extensible network manager may be required for use with the        customized agents.    -   There are also concerns about the use of SNMP in the real-time        domain where bounded response, deadlines, and priorities are        required.    -   SNMPv2 is intended to be able to coexist with existing SNMPv2,        but in order to use SNMPv2 as the SNMP manager or to migrate        from SNMPv1 to SNMPv2, all SNMPv1 compliant agents must be        entirely replaced with SNMPv2 compliant agents-gateways or        bilingual managers and proxy agents were not available to        support the gradual migration as of early-1995. Since SNMPv1 and        SNMPv2 are incompatible with each other and SNMPv2 is not        stable, it is important when procuring a managed device to        determine which network management protocol(s) is supported.    -   SNMP is conventionally used to send messages between management        client nodes and agent nodes. Management information blocks        (MIB's) are used for statistic counters, port status, and other        information about routers and other network devices. GET and SET        commands are issued from management consoles and operate on        particular MIB variables for the equipment nodes. Such commands        allow network management functions to be carried out between        client equipment nodes and management agent nodes. The agent        nodes can issue alert or TRAP messages to the management center        to report special events.    -   SNMP is an application protocol for network management services        in the internet protocol suite. SNMP has been adopted by        numerous network equipment vendors as their main or secondary        management interface. SNMP defines a client/server relationship,        wherein the client program, a “network manager”, makes virtual        connections to a server program, an “SNMP agent”, on a remote        network device. The data base controlled by the SNMP agent is        the SNMP management information base, and is a standard set of        statistical and control values. SNMP and private MIB's allow the        extension of standard values with values specific to a        particular agent. Directives issued by the network manager        client to an SNMP agent comprise SNMP variable identifiers,        e.g., MIB object identifiers or MIB variables, and instructions        to either GET the value for the identifier, or SET the        identifier to a new value. Thus private MIB variables allow SNMP        agents to be customized for specific devices, e.g., network        bridges, gateways, and routers. The definitions of MIB variables        being supported by particular agents are located in descriptor        files, typically written in abstract syntax notation (ASN.1)        format. The definitions are available to network management        client programs.    -   SNMP is a standard TCP/IP protocol providing for network        management. SNMP is used by network administrators to monitor        and map network availability, performance, and error rates. SNMP        network devices use a Management Information Base (MIB)        distributed data store. SNMP compliant devices include a MIB        that describes the device attributes. Some attributes are fixed        or “hard coded” in the MIB, and others are dynamic values        calculated by agent software running on the device. Tivoli, HP        OpenView, and other enterprise network management software use        SNMP commands to read and write data in each device MIB. The        so-called “Get” command retrieves data, and the “Set” command        initiate some action on the device. For example, a “system        reboot” command is implemented by defining a particular MIB        attribute and issuing an SNMP Set from the manager software to        write a “reboot” value into that attribute. SNMP was developed        in the 1980's. The original version, SNMPv1, was too simple and        only worked with TCP/IP networks. The improved specification,        SNMPv2, was developed in 1992. SNMP suffers from various flaws        of its own, so many networks remained on the SNMPv1 standard        while others adopted SNMPv2. More recently, SNMPv3 specification        was completed in an attempt to address the problems with SNMPv1        and SNMPv2 and allow administrators to move to one common SNMP        standard.

Returning to the discussion of media streams, industry has created anumber of codecs to deal with the problems created by latency, jitter,and packet loss. Each of these codecs have benefits and drawbacksdepending on how they are implemented, and what sort of networkqualities affect them.

To make sure that networks are reliable enough to provide for areal-time service, the industry has created a number of tests thatcombine a codec, latency, jitter, and packet loss reading to create asingle score to determine the success of communications on that linkwith the codec. Mean Opinion Score (MOS) is one currently acceptedmethod of creating a single measurement for a link. This score can becalculated via software by following the ITU-T G.107 E-model. This is aset of calculations performed with codec, latency, jitter, and packetloss.

-   -   To make networks reliable enough for real-time service, the        networking industry has created test suites that combine codec,        latency, jitter, and packet loss readings into a single score to        describe the communications quality on links. The mean opinion        score (MOS) is a popular method of quality rating a link. The        MOS can be calculated with software written to the ITU-T G.107        E-model. Such software inputs codec, latency, jitter, and packet        loss into its calculations. In Internet voice communications,        the MOS provides a numerical measure of the quality of human        speech at the destination end of the circuit. The scheme uses        subjective tests, opinionated scores, that are mathematically        averaged to obtain a system performance quantitative indicator.    -   Compressor/decompressor (codec) systems and digital signal        processing (DSP) are used in voice communications to conserve        bandwidth, but at the cost of voice fidelity. The best codec's        provide the most bandwidth conservation while producing the        least degradation of the signal. Bandwidth can be measured using        laboratory instruments, but voice quality is subjective. To        determine MOS, a number of listeners rate the quality of test        sentences read aloud over the communications circuit by male and        female speakers. A listener gives each sentence a rating of (1)        bad; (2) poor; (3) fair; (4) good; (5) excellent. The MOS is the        arithmetic mean of all the individual scores, and ranges 1-5,        worst to best.

Currently, there are a number of companies providing hardware andsoftware based solutions that require setting up network agents aroundthe network, and they will test latency, jitter and packet loss betweenthese agents to provide a measurement. They then calculate a MOS scoreagainst a number of codecs to help determine which codec will providethe best results on your network. If there is a high latency, or highjitter, or high packet loss, this type of test will not help indetermining the actual source or cause of the problem.

There are also solutions like SmokePing that will measure latency,jitter, and packet loss from one system to any other system that willrespond to an Internet Command Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request.This type of solution has the obvious benefit of not requiring agents tobe installed on the network. The drawback of this type of solution isthat it will do nothing to help determine the actual source or cause ofthe high latency, jitter, or packet loss. This type of solution is alsolimited in the fact that it can only make measurements to or from themonitoring station. Measurements from one end point to a different endpoint is not possible.

Both of these types of solutions send empty packets on the network totest the conditions of the network. These “test packets” tend to besmall, but can add to network overhead on bandwidth constrained links.

What is needed is a solution that will monitor latency, jitter, andpacket loss for each individual link on the network, and then determineall of the possible combinations of links to determine a quality scorefor all possible service paths. This type of system would then be ableto identify the one or more specific links in a service path that causedpacket loss to be high. The network devices attached to the link(s)could then be queried for statistics to help determine the actual sourceof the quality problem.

For a moment, consider the requirements and background of VoIP calls.VoIP calls are made asynchronously to the network monitoring intervals.Thus, calls are made at any time, and may last for any duration.

-   -   Many VoIP phones (both soft phones and hardware phones) will        provide basic statistics at the end of the call as to what the        average latency, average packet loss, and average jitter was        seen during the entire call. The phones don't collect additional        statistics due to memory or CPU limitations on the phone.    -   If a user has a VoIP call that lasts 30 minutes, and the call        quality (by the user's perception) is good for 29 minutes and 30        seconds, and 30 seconds of the call end up being very poor        quality, then the user's perception of the call would indicate        that the call was “very bad” or “unacceptable”, when the        statistics over that period would show that the call quality        should have been fine.    -   This is a result of the fact that averaging these statistics        does not provide for sufficient reporting to be able to        determine if a call was good or bad according to user        perception.

What is also needed is a mechanism for collecting useful statistics of acall's worst interval of performance that can be time synchronized to anetwork monitoring system to determine why the call had poorperformance.

To summarize: today network analysis is done in a static fashion, oftenusing pings, providing non real-time estimates based upon unreal data.These estimates may include packet loss, latency, and the variance inlatency, which will be referred to as jitter herein. All of this isgood, but inadequate. Actual networks are real-time creatures,responding specifically to the real-time requests and device capacities,which change and fluctuate in real-time, often dramatically affectingthe performance and reliability of the delivery of media stream events,such as VoIP, web casts, video conferences, and live video over IP.

What is needed are solutions that will monitor latency, jitter, andpacket loss for each individual link on the network, and then determineall of the possible combinations of links to determine a quality scorefor all possible service paths. This type of system would then be ableto identify the one or more specific links in a service path that causedpacket loss to be high. The network devices attached to the link(s)could then be queried for statistics to help determine the actual sourceof the quality problem.

What is also needed is a mechanism for collecting useful statistics of acall's worst interval of performance that can be time synchronized to anetwork monitoring system to determine why the call had poorperformance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention's method observes a network management zone by creating areal-time estimate of at least one network parameter for at least oneresponsive resource in the network management zone. Each of theresponsive resources in the network management zone respond to amanagement protocol compatible with a version of the Simple NetworkManagement Protocol (SNMP).

-   -   Creating the real-time estimate includes sending at least one        request in the network management protocol to the responsive        resource at a transmission time, measuring the response to the        request from the responsive resource based upon the transmission        time to contribute to the real-time estimate of the network        parameter, and measuring a non-response to the request after a        time-out from the transmission time.    -   The version of the SNMP may include at least one of SNMP v1,        SNMP v2c and SNMP v3.    -   The management protocol may be compatible with a national        standard in Mainland China and/or India.    -   The real-time estimate may be based upon the requests whose        transmission time is within the last N minutes, where N may be        at most sixty, at most fifteen, at most five, or at most one.        The method may further include establishing the N for the        real-time estimates, and possibly distinct values of the N for        different network parameters.    -   The responsive resource may preferably implement at least one of        the following: a server, a router, a bridge, a switch, a        firewall, a wireless router, a base station, a wireless hub, a        workstation, a cable modem, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)        modem, a Voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a video conferencing        station, a VoIP gateway, an analog telephony attachment, and a        Public Branch exchange (PBX).

The network management zone may include a link between a firstresponsive resource and a second responsive resource.

-   -   Creating the real-time estimate may further include creating the        real-time estimate of the network parameter for the second        responsive resource via the link to the first responsive        resource.    -   Sending the request may further include sending the request in        the management protocol to the second responsive resource at the        transmission time via the first responsive resource and via the        link.    -   Measuring the response may further include measuring the        response to the request from the first responsive resource via        the link from the second responsive resource.

The link may employ at least one instance of a wireless physicaltransport and/or a wireline physical transport.

-   -   The wireless physical transport includes a radio frequency        physical transport, a microwave frequency physical transport, an        infrared frequency physical transport, a light frequency        physical transport, and an ultrasonic physical transport.    -   The wireline physical transport includes a wire-based physical        transport, a waveguide physical transport, and an optical fiber        physical transport.

The network parameter may be any of the following members of the networkparameter group:

-   -   Packet loss may refer and/or include any of the following: A        resource packet loss for the responsive resource. A link packet        loss to the first responsive resource through the link to the        second responsive resource. A message packet loss.    -   Latency may refer and/or include any of the following: A        resource latency for the responsive resource. A unidirectional        latency to the first responsive resource through the link to the        second responsive resource. A bidirectional latency between the        first responsive resource through the link to the second        responsive resource. A message latency.    -   Jitter may refer and/or include any of the following: A latency        jitter as a variance of the latency, A unidirectional latency        jitter as the variance of the unidirectional latency. A        bidirectional latency jitter as the variance of the        bidirectional latency. A message latency jitter.    -   A link utilization capacity of the link.    -   And/or a resource utilization capacity of the resource.

The network management zone may further and preferably include each ofthe responsive resources capable of responding to the request.

The invention includes the real-time estimate of the network parameteras a product of the invention's process of observing the responsiveresource to at least one request in the management protocol discussedabove. The invention's method includes constructing a quality of servicemeasure using the real-time estimate of at least two network parameters.The invention includes the quality of service measure as a product ofthis process. The quality of service measure may further be constructedby using real-time estimates of more than two network parameters. It mayfurther be constructed using a codec. The quality of service measure mayinclude the Mean Opinion Score. Alternatively, the quality of servicemeasure may be the Mean Opinion Score.

The network management zone may further and preferably include amanagement node sending the requests to the responsive nodes included inthe network management zone. The management node may further receive theresponses to the requests from the responsive nodes.

The invention includes the management node implementing the method ofobserving the network management zone and including means for creatingthe real-time estimate of the at least one network parameter for the atleast one responsive resource to the management protocol in the networkmanagement zone, which may further include means for sending the atleast one request in the management protocol to the responsive resourceat the transmission time, means for measuring the response to therequest from the responsive resource based upon the transmission time tocontribute to the real-time estimate of the network parameter, and meansfor measuring the non-response to the request after the time-out afterthe transmission time.

The invention's method may further include altering at least one of theresponsive resources based upon the real-time estimate of the at leastone network parameter and/or creating a service schedule request for theresponsive resource based upon at least one of the estimates of thenetwork parameter.

-   -   Altering the responsive resource may include sending a link        configuration message to the responsive resource to create a        link table entry in the responsive resource, sending a reset        message to the responsive resource to reset the responsive        resource, and/or sending a connectivity test message to the        responsive resource to create a connectivity status message sent        from the responsive resource to the management node.    -   The service schedule request may include at least one member of        the service activity group. The service activity group consists        of replace the responsive resource, replace a non-volatile        storage module included in the responsive resource, confirm at        least one link for the responsive resource, create the link for        the responsive resource, create the link table entry for the        link in the responsive resource, and alter the link table entry        for the link in the responsive resource.

The management node may further include means for altering at least oneof the responsive resources based upon the real-time estimate of atleast one of the network parameters for the responsive resource. Themeans for altering may include any combination of the following themeans for sending a link configuration message to the responsiveresource to create a link table entry in the responsive resource, meansfor sending a reset message to the responsive resource to reset theresponsive resource, and means for sending a connectivity test messageto the responsive resource to create a connectivity status message sentfrom the responsive resource to the management node.

-   -   As used herein, the altering message group consists of the        members: the link configuration message, the reset message, and        the connectivity test message.    -   In certain embodiments, at least one member of the altering        message group is compatible with a version of the Internet        Control Management Protocol (ICMP).

The management node may include means for presenting the real-timeestimate of the at least one network parameter for the at least oneresponsive resource to create a resource map of the network managementzone.

The means for presenting may include the following:

-   -   A table containing the real-time estimate of the network        parameter for the responsive resource at a time step, for each        of the responsive resources, for each of the network parameters,        and for at least two of the time steps.    -   And means for updating the table based upon at least one member        of the response group consisting of: the response and the        non-response, both to the request to the responsive resource.

The means for presenting may further include means for translating thetable to a display template, means for transferring the display templateto a management screen presented to a network manager, means forcollecting a network command response from the network manager basedupon the management screen presenting the display template, and meansfor directing network activities based upon the network commandresponse.

The means for directing network activities may include means for postinga first service request for at least one of the responsive resources,means for posting a second service request for a link between a first ofthe responsive resources and a second of the responsive resources,and/or means for posting a control message request to a means foraltering at least one of the responsive resources.

-   -   The means for directing network activities may further include        means for tracking the first service request for the responsive        resource, means for tracking the second service request for the        link between the first responsive resource and the second        responsive resource, and means for tracking the control message        request to the means for altering the responsive resource.

At least one member of the means group of the management node mayinclude at least one instance of at least one of the following: acomputer accessibly coupled to a memory and directed by a program systemincluding at least one program step residing in the memory, a finitestate machine and an inferential engine.

-   -   As used herein, a computer includes at least one instruction        processor and at least one data processor, where each of the        data processors is at least partly directed by at least one of        the instruction processors.    -   As used herein, the means group consists of: means for creating,        means for sending, means for measuring the response, the means        for measuring the non-response, and the means for presenting.

The invention further includes of a program system for communicating theinvention's method, containing program steps residing in a non-volatilememory component. The program system includes at least one of thefollowing program steps:

-   -   creating the real-time estimate of the at least one network        parameter for the at least one responsive resource to the        management protocol in the network management zone, and/or    -   presenting the real-time estimate of the at least one network        parameter for the at least one responsive resource to create a        resource map of the network management zone, and/or    -   altering at least one of the responsive resources based upon the        real-time estimate of the at least one network parameter, and/or    -   creating a service schedule request for the responsive resource        based upon at least one of the estimate of the network        parameter.

The non-volatile memory component includes at least one instance of asemiconductor non-volatile memory component, a magnetic non-volatilememory component, an optical non-volatile memory component, and/or aferroelectric non-volatile memory component.

-   -   The non-volatile memory component installs the method through        communicating with at least one computer to create an        installation of the program system in a memory accessibly        coupled to the computer.

The program steps may preferably be compatible with a computer languagebelonging to at least one member of the computer language groupconsisting of a markup language, an interpreted language, a scriptlanguage and a machine language.

-   -   The markup language may preferably include a version of Hyper        Text Markup Language (HTML) and/or a version of Virtual Reality        Markup Language (VRML).    -   The interpreted language may preferably include a version of        Java, a version of Basic, a version of Smalltalk, a version of        Prolog, and/or a version of LISP.    -   The script language may preferably include a version of PERL        and/or a version of a shell script language.    -   The machine language may preferably include a version of a        Single Instruction Single Datapath (SISD) machine language, a        version of a Single Instruction Multiple Datapath (SIMD) machine        language, a version of a Multiple Instruction Single Datapath        (MISD) machine language, and a version of a Multiple Instruction        Multiple Datapath (MIMD) machine language. The program steps may        be in a relocatable or non-relocatable format.

The invention also includes an installation package for communicatingthe invention's method including at least one member of the installationmeans group consisting of:

-   -   means for installing the step creating the real-time estimate of        the at least one network parameter for the at least one        responsive resource to the management protocol in the network        management zone, and/or    -   means for installing the step presenting the real-time estimate        of the at least one network parameter for the at least one        responsive resource to create a resource map of the network        management zone, and/or    -   means for installing the step altering at least one of the        responsive resources based upon the real-time estimate of the at        least one network parameter, and/or    -   means for installing the step creating a service schedule        request for the responsive resource based upon at least one of        the estimate of the network parameter.

The member(s) of installation means group included in the installationpackage reside in the memory of a server.

At least one of these members of the installation means group includesat least one member of the installation mechanism group consisting of: acomputer program system installation mechanism, a finite state machineinstallation mechanism, and an inferential engine installationmechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a network management zone and the invention's method forgenerating a real-time estimate of a network parameter based upon atleast one request to a responsive resource;

FIG. 1B shows examples of the management protocol of the requests ofFIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C shows some examples of what may be included in a responsiveresource;

FIG. 2A shows an example of the network management zone FIG. 1Aincluding a link between two responsive resources;

FIG. 2B shows the link may include at least one wireless physicaltransport and/or at least one wireline physical transport;

FIGS. 2C and 2D show examples of constructing a quality of servicemeasure from the real-time estimates of multiple network parameters;

FIG. 3A shows some details of the wireless physical transport of FIG.2B;

FIG. 3B shows some details of the wireline physical transport of FIG.2B;

FIG. 3C shows some details of the network parameter of FIGS. 1A and 2A;

FIG. 4A shows some details of the management node of FIGS. 1A and 2A forcreating the real-time estimate of the network parameter;

FIG. 4B shows the operation within the network management zone using thereal-time estimate of the network parameter to create service schedulerequests and/or send messages to the responsive resource to configurelinks, reset the responsive resource and/or test connectivity;

FIG. 5A shows the members of the service activity group which may beincluded in the service schedule requests of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5B shows the management node include a means for altering theresponsive resource by sending an altering message, based upon thereal-time estimate of the network parameter;

FIG. 5C show the altering message group to which the altering message ofFIG. 5B may preferably be a member;

FIG. 6A shows further details of the means for altering of FIG. 5B;

FIG. 6B shows the management node including a means for presenting thereal-time estimate of the network parameter to create a resource map ofthe network management zone;

FIGS. 7A to 8C show some details of the means for presenting of FIG. 6B;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of network management zones;

FIGS. 11A to 13A show details of the means for presenting of FIGS. 6B to8C;

FIG. 13B shows the means group of the management node;

FIG. 13C shows the means for creating including an instance of a FiniteState Machine;

FIG. 13D shows the means for altering including an inferential engine;

FIG. 14 shows the means for presenting including an instance of acomputer;

FIG. 15 shows the management node including an instance of a computerimplementing at least part of each member of the means group of FIG.13B;

FIG. 16A shows the management program system of FIG. 15 implementing atleast part of each member of the means group of FIG. 13B;

FIG. 16B shows the computer language group, whose members may be used toimplement the program systems of the previous Figures and/or theinstallation package of FIGS. 17A and 17B; and

FIGS. 17A and 17B show an installation package for the invention'smethod and its use to create the management node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to network management methods and mechanismsusing a management protocol compatible Simple Network ManagementProtocol to provide real-time analysis of media stream capabilities innetworks, in particular, to observing responsiveness to requests tocreate and use real-time estimates of network parameters for responsiveresources in a network management zone.

The invention's method observes a network management zone 300 bycreating 800 a real-time estimate 450 of at least one network parameter500 for at least one responsive resource 600 in the network managementzone as shown in FIG. 1A and subsequent Figures. Each of the responsiveresources in the network management zone respond to a managementprotocol 700 compatible with a version of the Simple Network ManagementProtocol 710 also known herein as SNMP as shown in FIG. 1B.

-   -   Creating 800 the real-time estimate 450 includes sending 810 at        least one request 620 in the management protocol 700 to the        responsive resource 700 at a transmission time 630, measuring        812 the response 622 to the request from the responsive resource        based upon the transmission time to contribute to the real-time        estimate of the network parameter 500, and measuring 814 a        non-response 624 to the request after a time-out 632 from the        transmission time.    -   The version of the SNMP 710 may include at least one of SNMP v1,        SNMP v2c and SNMP v3.    -   The management protocol 700 may be compatible with a national        standard of Mainland China 712 and/or a national standard of        India 714.    -   The real-time estimate 450 of the network parameter 500 may be        based upon the more than one request 620 whose transmission time        630 is within the last N minutes, where N may be at most sixty,        at most fifteen, at most five, or at most one. The method may        further include establishing the N for the real-time estimates,        and possibly distinct values of the N for different network        parameters.    -   The responsive resource 600 may preferably implement at least        one of the following as shown in FIG. 1C: a server 650, a router        652, a bridge 654, a switch 656, a firewall 658, a wireless        router 660, a base station 670, a wireless hub 672, a        workstation 674, a cable modem 676, a Digital Subscriber Line        modem 678 (which is sometimes referred to as a DSL modem), a        Voice over IP phone 680 (which is sometimes referred to as a        VoIP phone), a video conferencing station 682, a VoIP gateway        684, an analog telephony attachment 686, and a Public Branch        eXchange 688 (PBX).

The request 620 may not get to the responsive resource 600, or theresponse 622 may not get to the management node 200. For example,according to searchNetworking.com definitions, the Time-To Live (TTL)value is a value in a packet that tells a router whether or not thepacket has been in the network too long and should be discarded.

-   -   For a number of reasons, packets may not get delivered to their        destination in a reasonable length of time. For example, a        combination of incorrect routing tables could cause a packet to        loop endlessly.    -   A solution is to discard the packet after a certain time and        send a message to the originator, who can decide whether to        resend the packet. The initial TTL value is set, usually by a        system default, in an 8-binary digit field of the packet header.        The original idea of TTL was that it would specify a certain        time span in seconds that, when exhausted, would cause the        packet to be discarded.    -   Since each router is required to subtract at least one count        from the TTL field, the count is usually used to mean the number        of router hops the packet is allowed before it must be        discarded. When the count reaches zero, the router detecting it        discards the packet and sends an Internet Control Message        Protocol (ICMP) message back to the originating host.    -   The default Windows 95/98 TTL value is 32 hops. Some users        recommend changing this to 128 if users have difficulty reaching        certain sites. The ping and the traceroute utilities both make        use of the TTL value to attempt to reach a given host computer        or to trace a route to that host. Traceroute intentionally sends        a packet with a low TTL value so that it will be discarded by        each successive router in the destination path. The time between        sending the packet and receiving back the ICMP message that it        was discarded is used to calculate each successive hop travel        time. Using the multicast IP protocol, the TTL value indicates        the scope or range in which a packet may be forwarded. By        convention: 0 is restricted to the same host; 1 is restricted to        the same subnet; 32 is restricted to the same site; 64 is        restricted to the same region; 128 is restricted to the same        continent; and, 255 is unrestricted.

The management node 200 preferably sends repeated requests 620 to theresponsive resource 600. These are then used to create a real-timeestimate of various kinds of jitter, such as latency jitter 514,unidirectional latency jitter 516 and bidirectional latency jitter 518.

-   -   The repeated requests 620 to the responsive resource 600 each        create a response 622 or non-response 624, which are        collectively used to create the real-time estimates of packet        loss, for example, resource packet loss 504 and/or link packet        loss 506.

The network management zone 300 may include a link 602 between a firstresponsive resource 600-1 and a second responsive resource 600-2 asshown in FIG. 2A.

-   -   Creating 800 the real-time estimate 450 may further include        creating the real-time estimate of the network parameter 500 for        the second responsive resource 600-2 via the link 602 to the        first responsive resource 600-1.    -   Sending 810 the request 620 may further include sending the        request in the management protocol 700 to the second responsive        resource 600-2 at the transmission time 630 via the first        responsive resource 600-1 and via the link 602.    -   Measuring 812 the response 622 may further include measuring the        response to the request from the first responsive resource 600-1        via the link 602 from the second responsive resource 600-2.

The link 602 may employ at least one instance of a wireless physicaltransport 720 and/or a wireline physical transport 722 as shown in FIG.2B.

-   -   The wireless physical transport 720 may include a radio        frequency physical transport 730, a microwave frequency physical        transport 732, an infrared frequency physical transport 734, a        light frequency physical transport 736, and an ultrasonic        physical transport 738, as shown in FIG. 3A.    -   The wireline physical transport 722 includes a wire-based        physical transport 750 and a waveguide physical transport 752 as        shown in FIG. 3B.

The network parameter 500 may be any of the following members of thenetwork parameter group 502 as shown in FIG. 3C:

-   -   Packet loss 502-L may refer and/or include any of the following:        A resource packet loss 504 for the responsive resource 600. A        link packet loss 506 to the first responsive resource 600-1        through the link 602 to the second responsive resource 600-2. A        message packet loss 524.

Latency 502-L may refer and/or include any of the following: A resourcelatency 508 for the responsive resource. A unidirectional latency 510 tothe first responsive resource through the link to the second responsiveresource. A bidirectional latency 512 between the first responsiveresource through the link to the second responsive resource. A messagelatency 526.

-   -   Jitter 502-J may refer and/or include any of the following: A        latency jitter 514 as a variance of the latency, A        unidirectional latency jitter 516 as the variance of the        unidirectional latency. A bidirectional latency jitter 518 as        the variance of the bidirectional latency. A message latency        jitter 528.    -   A link utilization capacity 520 of the link.    -   And/or a resource utilization capacity 522 of the resource.

As used herein any and/or all of these jitter terms may be calculatedbased upon a variety of statistical and heuristic procedures whichinclude but are not limited to

-   -   the average of the difference between the maximum and minimum of        the estimated network parameter;    -   the statistical variance of the estimated network parameter;    -   a windowed version of one of the above; and    -   a weighted moving average of one of the above.

The network management zone 300 may further and preferably include eachresponsive resource 600 which can respond 622 to the request 622.

The invention includes the real-time estimate 450 of the networkparameter 500 as a product of the invention's process of observing theresponsive resource 600 to at least one request 620 in the managementprotocol 700 as shown in the preceding Figures and discussed above. Theinvention's method includes constructing 820 a quality of servicemeasure 772 using the real-time estimate of at least two networkparameters, as shown in FIGS. 2C, 2D, 15 and 16A. Variousimplementations of the method may include means for constructing 820,which may be included in the management node 200 as shown in FIGS. 15and 16A, or may not be included in the network management zone. Theinvention includes the quality of service measure as a product of thisprocess. The quality of service measure may further be constructed byusing real-time estimates of more than two network parameters as shownin FIG. 2D. It may further be constructed using a codec 776. The qualityof service measure may include a Mean Opinion Score 774. Alternatively,the quality of service measure may be the Mean Opinion Score.

The network management zone 300 may further and preferably include atleast one management node 200 sending 810 the request 620 to at leastone responsive node 600 included in the network management zone. Themanagement node may further receive 812 the response 622 to the requestfrom the responsive node 600.

The invention includes the management node 200 implementing the methodof observing the network management zone 300 is shown in FIG. 4Aincluding means for creating 800 the real-time estimate 450 of the atleast one network parameter 500 for the at least one responsive resource600 to the management protocol 700 in the network management zone, whichmay further include means for sending 810 the request in the managementprotocol to the responsive resource at the transmission time 630, meansfor measuring 812 the response to the request from the responsiveresource based upon the transmission time to contribute to the real-timeestimate of the network parameter, and means for measuring 814 thenon-response 624 to the request after the time-out 632 after thetransmission time.

-   -   The request 620 may optionally be a request for the responsive        resource's system time. The system clocks of the management node        200 and the responsive resource 600 are preferably synchronized,        so the unidirectional latency 510 can be calculated by        subtracting the return trip time from the bidirectional latency        518.    -   The traceroutes to these responsive resources are regularly        computed. The number of hops are counted, and the latency        between the hops is tracked.    -   Reports are viewable as on the resource map 980 of FIG. 6B        and/or using the display template 958 presented to the        management screen 972 of FIG. 12A for latency changes of interim        hops, and changes in routes that would affect the hop count of        packets reaching the destination.

The invention's method may further include altering at least oneresponsive resource 600 based upon the real-time estimate 450 of the atleast one network parameter 500 and/or creating a service schedulerequest 770 for the responsive resource based upon at least one of theestimates of the network parameter as shown in FIG. 4B.

-   -   Altering the responsive resource 600 may include sending a link        configuration message 760 to the responsive resource to create a        link table entry 762 in the responsive resource, sending a reset        message 764 to the responsive resource to reset the responsive        resource, and/or sending a connectivity test message 766 to the        responsive resource to create a connectivity status message 768        sent from the responsive resource to the management node 200.    -   The service schedule request 770 may include at least one member        of the service activity group 900 as shown in FIG. 5A. The        service activity group consists of replace responsive resource        902, replace non-volatile storage module 904 included in the        responsive resource 600, confirm a link 906 for the responsive        resource, create the link 908 for the responsive resource,        create a link table entry 910 for the link 602 of the first        responsive resource 600-1 as shown in FIG. 2A, and alter 912 the        link table entry 762 as shown in FIG. 4B for the link in the        responsive resource.

The management node 200 may further include means for altering 920 atleast one responsive resource 600 based upon the real-time estimate 450of at least one network parameter 500 for the responsive resource bysending at least one member of the altering message group 930 to theresponsive resource as shown in FIG. 5B. As used herein a member of thealtering message group will be referred to as an altering message 922.

-   -   As used herein, the altering message group 924 consists of the        members: the link configuration message 760, the reset message        764, and the connectivity test message 766 as shown in FIG. 5C.    -   The means for altering 920 may include any combination of the        following a first altering means 930 for sending the link        configuration message 760 to the responsive resource 600 to        create a link table entry 762 in the responsive resource, a        second altering means 932 for sending the reset message 764 to        the responsive resource to reset the responsive resource, and a        third altering means 766 for sending the connectivity test        message 766 to the responsive resource to create the        connectivity status message 768 sent from the responsive        resource to the management node 200, as shown in FIG. 6A.    -   In certain embodiments, at least one member of the altering        message group is compatible with a version of the Internet        Control Management Protocol (ICMP).

The management node may 200 include means for presenting 950 thereal-time estimate 450 of at least one network parameter 500 for atleast one responsive resource 600 to create a resource map 980 of thenetwork management zone 200 as shown in FIG. 6B.

-   -   The resource map 980 may include daily network “Weather Report”        which may be preferably emailed to users to help them keep track        of the health of the network. Users may not have to login to the        management node 200 to get these reports. They may be        customizable, allowing the addition of a company's logo or other        custom information. Links on a report may allow users to connect        to the web page to analyze and fix problems. Telnet links for        each switch may allow users to check and change configurations.        Users may keep/organize each report in an email system to        maintain a history of the network's health. The resource map        preferably provides network performance information on each        responsive resource in the network management zone 200 so users        can know which responsive resources are over-utilized, and which        have too many errors.

The means for presenting 950 may include the following: A table 960containing a real-time estimate 450 of the network parameter 500 for theresponsive resource 600 at a time step 962, for at least one of theresponsive resources, for at least one of the network parameters, andfor at least two of the time steps.

By way of example, FIGS. 7A and 7B show the table 960 including a firstnetwork parameter 500-1 which is estimated for two time steps, the firsttime step 962-1 and the second time step for the responsive resource600, for exactly one responsive resource 600.

-   -   FIG. 7A shows the table including the first real-time estimate        450-1 at the first time step 962-1 and the second real-time        estimate 450-2 at the second time step 962-2, both for the first        network parameter 500-1.    -   FIG. 7B shows the table including the first-first real-time        estimate 450-11 at the first time step 962-1 and the        second-first real-time estimate 450-21 at the second time step        962-2, both for the first network parameter 500-1.

FIG. 7B further shows the table including the second-first real-timeestimate 450-21 at the first time step 962-1 and the second-secondreal-time estimate 450-22 at the second time step 962-2, both for thefirst network parameter 500-1.

FIGS. 8A to 8C show further examples of the table 960 includingreal-time estimates for two responsive resources and two or more networkparameters at two or more time steps. The responsive resources of theseFigure will be referred to as the first responsive resource 600-1 andthe second responsive resource 600-2. The network parameters will bereferred to as the first network parameter 500-1, the second networkparameter 500-2 and the first network parameter 500-3.

As used herein, the real-time estimate 450 of the K-th responsiveresource 600-K for the L-th network parameter 600-L at the M-th timestep 962-M will be referred to as the Kth-Lth-Mth real-time estimate450-KLM. The following are examples of this notation as used in FIGS. 8Ato 8C:

-   -   The real-time estimate 450 for the first responsive resource        600-1 of the first network parameter 600-1 at the first time        step 962-1 will be referred to as the first-first-first        real-time estimate 450-111.    -   Similarly, the real-time estimate 450 for the first responsive        resource 600-1 of the first network parameter 600-1 at the        second time step 962-2 will be referred to as the        first-first-second real-time estimate 450-112.    -   Similarly, the real-time estimate 450 of the first responsive        resource 600-1 for the second network parameter 600-2 at the        third time step 962-3 will be referred to as the        first-second-third real-time estimate 450-123.    -   Similarly, the real-time estimate 450 of the second responsive        resource 600-2 for the first network parameter 600-1 at the        third time step 962-3 will be referred to as the        second-first-third real-time estimate 450-213.

The table 960 may or may not include real-time estimates for differingresponsive resources 600 on the same time step 962.

-   -   FIGS. 8A and 8B shows examples of the table including real-time        estimates for both the first responsive resource 300-1 and the        second responsive resource 600-2 for each of the time steps        included in the table.    -   FIG. 8C shows the real-time estimates for the first responsive        resource for each of the time steps included in the table, but        only includes real-time estimates for the second responsive        resource for the second time step 962-2 and the third time step        962-3, but not the first time step 962-1.    -   Similarly, the real-time estimates included in the table for one        responsive resource may or may not include all network        parameters at each time step.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show examples of the network management zone 300including four routers, which will be referred to herein as the firstrouter 600-R1, the second router 600-R2, the third router 600-R3 and thefourth router 600-R4. A first link 602-1 communicatively couples thefirst router to the second router. A second link 602-2 communicativelycouples the second router to the third router. A third link 602-3communicatively couples the third router to the fourth router, exceptthis link crosses an unmanaged network 350 whose network parameterscannot be controlled, which will frequently be a version of theInternet.

-   -   FIG. 10 further shows a fourth link 602-4 from the first router        600-R1 through the unmanaged network 350 to the fourth router        600-R4.    -   In these examples, assume that the first router 600-R1, the        first VoIP phone 600-1, the first user A, and the management        node 200 are located near San Francisco SFO. The second router        600-R2, the second VoIP Phone 600-2, the second user B, the        second link 602-2 and the third router 600-R3 are located near        Portland PORT. The third user C, a workstation responsive        resource 600-3 and a fourth router 600-R4 are located near        Seattle SEATAC.    -   Further assume that the first VoIP phone 600-1, the second VoIP        phone 600-2 and the workstation responsive resource 600-3 are        considered completely dedicated to Voice over IP calls when        active and will not be considered in terms of network        parameters.    -   Frequently, the unmanaged network 350 supports a standard        protocol, such as the Internet Protocol.

Consider a network parameter 500, the resource latency 508. Thefollowing table 960 shows an example of the resource latency for theexample network management zone 300 of FIG. 9:

TABLE ONE Example of real time estimates included in the example table960 of an estimated parameter 500 of the network management zone 300 ofFIG. 9. Real time estimate of Resource latency Source node Destinationnode (milliseconds) Management node 200 First router 600-R1 5 Managementnode 200 Second router 600-R2 55 Management node 200 Third router 600-R360 Management node 200 Fourth router 600-R4 160

From these estimates, the following real-time estimates can be derivedand may be included in a preferred embodiment of the table 960:

TABLE TWO further real-time estimates derived from the examples of TableOne. Real time estimate of Resource latency Source node Destination node(milliseconds) First router 600-R1 Second router 600-R2 50 Second router600-R2 Third router 600-R3 5 Third router 600-R3 Fourth router 600-R4100

Based upon these examples of the real-time estimate 450 for the networkparameter 500 of the resource latency 508, the following estimates oflatency can be derived for VoIP phone calls:

TABLE THREE examples of VoIP phone call latency estimates based upon thereal-time estimates shown in the preceding two Tables. Real timeestimate of VoIP First User Second user latency (milliseconds) User AUser B 50 User B User C 100 User A User C 150

In certain embodiments some of the latencies in Tables One to Three maybe referred to by the network parameter 500 known herein as theunidirectional latency 510 and/or the bidirectional latency 512, ratherthan the resource latency 508, of FIG. 3C.

The means for presenting 950 may further include any combination of thefollowing as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C:

-   -   Means for updating 952 the table 960 based upon at least one        member of the response group consisting of: the response 622 and        the non-response 624, both to the request 620 to the responsive        resource 600 as shown in FIG. 11A.    -   Means for integrating 954 the table 960 with an external        real-time estimate 450-X received from the responsive resource        600, for at least one network parameter 500 and at least one        responsive resource 600 as shown in FIG. 11B.    -   The means for presenting 950 may include both the means for        updating 952 using the response 622 and/or the non-response 624        of the request 620 sent to a first responsive resource 600-1 and        further include the means for integrating 954 receiving an        external real-time estimate 450-X received from a second        responsive resource 600-2.    -   In certain embodiments of the invention the first and the second        responsive resources may be essentially the same.    -   At least two of the responsive resources may interact with the        means for updating 952 and/or at least two responsive resources        may send an external real-time estimate 450-X to the means for        integrating 954, in certain embodiments of the invention.

The means for presenting 950 may further include means for translating956 the table 960 to a display template 958, means for transferring 970the display template to a management screen 972 presented to a networkmanager 974, means for collecting 976 at least one network commandresponse 978 from the network manager based upon the management screenpresenting the display template, and means for directing networkactivities 990 based upon the network command response as shown in FIG.12A.

The means for directing network activities 990 may include a first meansfor posting 992-1 a first service request 994-1 for at least oneresponsive resource 600, a second means for posting 992-2 a secondservice request 994-2 for a link 602 between a first responsive resource600-1 and a second responsive resource 600-2, and/or a third means forposting 992-3 a control message request 978 to the means for altering922 at least one of the responsive resources.

In certain preferred embodiments, the means for directing networkactivities 990 may include the network command response 978 from thenetwork manager 974 stimulating at least one of the first means forposting 992-1, the second means for posting 992-2, and/or the thirdmeans for posting 992-3, as further shown in FIG. 12B.

The means for directing network activities 990 may further include afirst means for tracking 998-1 the first service request 994-1 for theresponsive resource 600, a second means for tracking 998-2 the secondservice request 994-2 for the link 602 between the first responsiveresource 600-1 and the second responsive resource 600-2, and a thirdmeans for tracking 998-3 the control message request 996 to the meansfor altering 922 the responsive resource, as shown in FIG. 13A.

In certain embodiments, the service schedule request 770 of FIG. 4A mayinclude the first service request 994-1 and/or the second servicerequest 994-2.

Users are enabled to securely access the network performance informationwherever they are by using the display template 958 with a Web browser,PocketPC, or Cellphone. Teleworking from a remote site is enabled with alow-bandwidth optimized user interface. All features that are availablevia the web interface are available on a PocketPC web interface. Theinvention provides users with the ability to resolve problems rapidlywhile still in the field.

Alerts may be issued if latency, jitter, or packet losses rise abovespecified thresholds, or if the MOS calculated with a specific codec istoo low for a specific monitored device. The alert could be in the formof an email, syslog message, SMS message, instant message, SNMP trap, orother alert mechanism.

In certain embodiments, the means for directing network activities 990may include a Network Prescription function leading to a healthiernetwork. Each user presentation displays on the management screen 972prescriptive information to suggest ways to improve performance andreduce errors. This preferably allows users to see the currentutilization of any responsive resource 600. If someone needs to know ifthe network is experiencing a slowdown, they can look at current linksaturation rates and determine if link is unusually slow. Users areenabled to search through all of a responsive resource's ARP caches toconvert an IP address to a MAC address, and then search for the MACaddress on all of the switch ports to locate the individual port wherethe device is connected.

At least one member of the means group 200-G of FIG. 13B of themanagement node 200 may include at least one instance of at least one ofthe following: a computer accessibly coupled to a memory and directed bya program system including at least one program step residing in thememory, a finite state machine FSM and an inferential engine IE.

-   -   As used herein, the means group consists of: means for creating        800, means for sending 810, means for measuring 812 the response        622, the means for measuring the non-response 814, the means for        constructing 820, the means for altering 920, and the means for        presenting 950.

By way of example, FIG. 13C shows the means for creating 800 includingan instance of a finite state machine FSM. FIG. 13D shows the means foraltering 920 including an instance of an inference engine IE. FIG. 14shows the means for presentation 950 including a presentation computer950-C accessibly coupled 950-A to a presentation memory 950-M.

-   -   As used herein, a computer includes at least one instruction        processor and at least one data processor, where each of the        data processors is at least partly directed by at least one of        the instruction processors.    -   The memory 950-M may preferably include the table 960, the        display template 956 and the network response command 978        received by the presentation computer 950-C from the means for        collecting 976 the response of the network manager 974, based        upon the presentation computer sending the display template to        the management screen.

The presentation computer 950-C of FIG. 14 may preferably be directed bya presentation program system 950-PS including at least part of theimplementation of at least one the following using at least one programstep residing in the memory:

-   -   The means for updating 952 the table 960 based upon the response        622 and/or the non-response 624 of the first responsive resource        600-1 to the request 620.    -   The means for integrating 954 the external real-time estimate        450-X from the second responsive resource 600-2 into the table        960.    -   The means for translating 956 the table 960 into the display        template 958.    -   The means for transferring the display template 958 to the        management screen 972 for presentation to the network manager        974.    -   The means for collecting 976 the network command response from        the network manager 974 based upon the presentation of the        display template 958 by the management screen 972.    -   And the means for directing network activities 990, possibly        based upon the network command response 978.

Alternatively, the management node may preferably include a managementcomputer 200-C second accessibly coupled 200-A to a second memory 200-Mas shown in FIG. 15. The management computer may send the request 620 tothe first responsive resource 600-1 at the transmit time 630. Theresponse 622 may be received within the time out 632 after the transmittime, or alternatively, a time out 632 may be created, preferably in thesecond memory. Receiving the response or creating the time out may beused to create the real-time estimate 450 of the network parameter 500,which may reside in the second memory.

-   -   Consider the following example, a VoIP phone 680 may establish a        call with another VoIP phone. During this call, the phone would        monitor the packets received from the other phone and keep track        of the latency 524, latency jitter 514, packet loss 504 or 506,        and overall number of out-of-order packets 526 that arrived.    -   The VoIP phone 680 may have a setting for a monitoring interval.        The monitoring interval would be set by default to 5 seconds.        The monitoring interval in the phone could be set by the user,        the PBX, or a single network management station.    -   The VoIP phone 680 may monitor the call and tally the peak        latency, peak jitter, and peak packet loss, and peak        out-of-order arrivals seen during any monitoring interval for        the entire call. Each peak would also have a timestamp of when        that peak was encountered.    -   At the end of the call, the VoIP phone 680 might send the        following information to a management node 200: codec used,        monitoring interval, average latency, average jitter, overall        packet loss, overall out-of-order packets, peak latency and        timestamp, peak jitter and timestamp, peak packet loss and        timestamp, and peak out-of-order packets and timestamp. This        constitutes an example of an external real-time estimate 450-X        being sent from a responsive resource 600, in this case, the        VoIP phone.    -   The VoIP phone 680 may have a setting for the number of Peak        values to store and return to the management node 200. The        number of Peak values would be set by default to 5. The number        of Peak values stored in the phone could be set by the user, the        PBX, or management node.

The management node 200 may monitor all of the network links 602 withinthe network management zone 300 for link utilization capacity 520,bidirectional latency 512, unidirectional latency 510, jitter, andpacket loss. It would be able to correlate the exact time of the poorcall quality with the performance of the network links at that time.

-   -   By way of example, the management node 200 may incorporate a        webserver that could accept the XML call detail record        information from a VoIP phone 680 that initiated a call and        would store this information in a database as at least one        external real-time estimate 450-X. The management node        preferably monitors network performance and uses the call detail        record information to update the table 960. A user could then        look up their call, and the quality of their call, learn the        reason for the poor call quality (jitter, latency, or packet        loss), and also look at the network performance at the exact        time of the quality loss.

FIG. 16A shows a flowchart of the invention's method and possessesarrows. These arrows will signify of flow of control and sometimes data,supporting implementations including at least one program step orprogram thread executing upon a computer, inferential links in aninferential engine, and state transitions in a finite state machine.

The step of starting a flowchart refers to at least one of the followingand is denoted by an oval with the text “Start” in it. Entering asubroutine in a macro instruction sequence in a computer. Entering intoa deeper node of an inferential graph. And directing a state transitionin a finite state machine, possibly while pushing a return state.

The step of termination in a flowchart refers to at least one of thefollowing and is denoted by an oval with the text “Exit” in it. Thecompletion of those steps, which may result in a subroutine return,traversal of a higher node in an inferential graph, and popping of apreviously stored state in a finite state machine.

A step in a flowchart refers to at least one of the following. Theinstruction processor responds to the step as a program step to controlthe data execution unit in at least partly implementing the step. Theinferential engine responds to the step as nodes and transitions withinan inferential graph based upon and modifying a inference database in atleast partly implementing the step. The neural network responds to thestep as stimulus in at least partly implementing the step. The finitestate machine responds to the step as at least one member of a finitestate collection comprising a state and a state transition, implementingat least part of the step.

The flowchart includes multiple steps. In certain aspects, any one ofthe steps may be found in an embodiment of the invention. In otheraspects, multiple steps are needed in an embodiment of the invention.When multiple steps are needed, these steps may be performedconcurrently, sequentially and/or in a combination of concurrent andsequential operations. The shapes of the arrows in multiple stepflowcharts may differ from one flowchart to another, and are not to beconstrued as having intrinsic meaning in interpreting the concurrency ofthe steps.

The invention further includes a program system implementing theinvention's method, known herein as the management program system200-PS. containing program steps residing in a non-volatile memorycomponent, preferably residing in the second memory 200-M. The programsystem includes at least one of the following program steps oroperations shown in FIG. 16A:

-   -   Operation 800 supports creating the real-time estimate 450 of        the at least one network parameter 500 for the at least one        responsive resource 600 to the management protocol 700 in the        network management zone 300. The operation may provide an        implementation of at least part of the means for creating 800 as        previously discussed.    -   Operation 950 supports presenting the real-time estimate 450 of        the network parameter 500 for the responsive resource 600 to        create a resource map 980 of the network management zone 300 as        shown in FIG. 6B. Note that the resource map 980 may preferably        be presented through the use of the display template 958 to a        management screen 972 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. This        operation may act as an interface to the presentation program        system 200-PS and/or as an entry point to it. The operation may        provide an implementation of at least part of the means for        presenting 950.    -   Operation 920 supports altering at least one responsive resource        600 based upon the real-time estimate 450 of at least one        network parameter 500 for at least one responsive resource 600.        This operation may provide an implementation of at least part of        the means for altering 920.    -   Operation 990 supports creating a service schedule request 770        for the responsive resource 600 based upon the real-time        estimate 450 of at least one network parameter 500. This        operation may provide an implementation of at least part of        means for directing network activities 990.

The non-volatile memory component may include at least one instance of asemiconductor non-volatile memory component, a magnetic non-volatilememory component, an optical non-volatile memory component, and/or aferroelectric non-volatile memory component.

-   -   The non-volatile memory component may preferably install the        method through communicating with at least one computer, for        example, the management computer 200-C and/or the presentation        computer 950-C to create an installation of the program system        in a memory accessibly coupled to the computer.

The program steps may preferably be compatible with a computer languagebelonging to at least one member of the computer language group CLG asshown in FIG. 16B: consisting of a markup language ML, an interpretedlanguage IL, a script language SL and a machine language Mach-L.

-   -   The markup language may preferably include a version of Hyper        Text Markup Language (HTML) and/or a version of Virtual Reality        Markup Language (VRML).    -   The interpreted language may preferably include a version of the        Java language Java-L, a version of the Basic language Basic-L, a        version of the Smalltalk language STL, a version of the Prolog        language PL, and/or a version of the LISP language Lisp-L.    -   The script language may preferably include a version of the PERL        language Perl-L and/or a version of a shell script language SSL.    -   The machine language Mach-L may preferably include a version of        a Single Instruction Single Datapath (SISD) machine language, a        version of a Single Instruction Multiple Datapath (SIMD) machine        language, a version of a Multiple Instruction Single Datapath        (MISD) machine language, and a version of a Multiple Instruction        Multiple Datapath (M) machine language. The program steps may be        in a relocatable or non-relocatable format.

The invention also includes an installation package IP for communicatingthe invention's method including at least one member of the installationmeans group as shown in FIG. 17A consisting of:

-   -   A first means for installing MI1 the step 800 creating the        real-time estimate 450 of at least one network parameter 500 for        at least one responsive resource 600 to the management protocol        700 in the network management zone 300, and/or    -   A second means for installing MI2 the step 950 presenting the        real-time estimate of the network parameter for the responsive        resource to create a resource map 980 of the network management        zone, and/or    -   A third means for installing MI3 the step 920 altering at least        one of the responsive resources based upon the real-time        estimate of the at least one network parameter, and/or    -   A fourth means for installing MI4 the step 990 creating a        service schedule request 770 for the responsive resource based        upon the estimate of the network parameter.

The installation package IP may be communicated by a server to create amanagement node 200 as shown in FIG. 17B.

-   -   By way of example, the installation package IP may be downloaded        from the server S, possibly for a subscription fee over the        Internet to a computer 200-C. Once installed, the application        program displays a browser window type graphical user interface        (GUI) as a control console.    -   It installs an SNMP manager that preferably collects mean        opinion score (MOS) statistics and path information related to a        number of remote VoIP clients. Each such client has an SNMP        router that can preferably respond to the SNMP manager.    -   The SNMP communication provides network quality information        about packet latency, jitter, and number of dropped packets. A        pathway utility manipulates the TTL field in the packets being        sent out to point-by-point discover the ISP-to-ISP pathways        taken by various VoIP connections to the clients. The MOS        statistics and other data are supplied in a browser GUI to an        enterprise administrator console for selection of particular        codec's and ISP's that will provide optimum quality.

At least one of these members of the installation means group includesat least one member of the installation mechanism group consisting of: acomputer program system installation mechanism, a finite state machineinstallation mechanism, and an inferential engine installationmechanism.

In general, implementing a VoIP system requires that its network to bestable and have a low incidence of errors. Embodiments of the presentinvention monitor the network to insure that it provides the highperformance, low error rate environment required by VoIP applications.If any VoIP link 602 used in the network management zone 300 generatestoo many errors, or it becomes too saturated with traffic, the problemcan be quickly and easily pin-pointed. Control thresholds are easily setto automatically monitor and report that all links on the network arehealthy and able to provide the stability that VOIP systems need.

-   -   Consider again FIG. 10. Suppose that the latency of the third        link 602-3 suddenly becomes large, much larger that the latency        of the fourth link 602-4. The management node 200 may preferably        send the first router 600-R1 a link configuration message 760 to        reroute the VoIP phone call packets from User A to User C to use        the fourth link, and a second link configuration message to the        fourth router 600-R4 to use the fourth link for VoIP phone call        packets from User C to User A.    -   Similarly, suppose that the packet loss of the third link 602-3        suddenly becomes large, much larger that of the fourth link        602-4. The management node 200 may preferably send the first        router 600-R1 the link configuration message 760 to reroute the        VoIP phone call packets from User A to User C to use the fourth        link, and the second link configuration message to the fourth        router 600-R4 to use the fourth link for VoIP phone call packets        from User C to User A.

Consider an installation package IP available as a non-volatile memorycomponent and/or as a download from the server S. When installed themanagement node 200 provides a resource map 980 enabling users to findnetwork bottlenecks, view the current utilization of any networkinterface, locate errors and broadcast storms, isolate virus/wormoutbreaks, and justify equipment/link upgrades by providing objectivedetails on network usage. Next generation network monitoring includesautomatic performance monitoring of all network interfaces, no lengthysetup should be required. It preferably adapts to network changes so noongoing maintenance is required. It has a minimal network impact,because system 100 doesn't flood the network with empty requests. Alertsare issued when monitored interfaces go over threshold, providingreal-time information on what the network is doing. Typical operationsstaff should be able to effectively use the solution within an hour. Theinstallation is quick and easy installation, takes less than one hour toinstall and auto configure. The hardware requirements are minimal, andaffordable.

-   -   In further detail, the management node 200 may preferably keep        track of service contracts for each responsive resource 600 in        the network management zone 300 so the service contract        information is accessible. Users are preferably alerted when        service contracts are due to expire, possibly by the management        node creating a monthly service contract report and/or sending a        reminder email prior to each service contract's expiration,        preventing lapses in support contracts.

Each responsive resource 600 may report how long it has been online andservicing the network management zone 300. This determines the generalreliability and stability of the network hardware. Being familiar withthis statistic helps users to evaluate when equipment should be replacedor serviced. Tracking errors on all responsive resources provides userswith an unabridged vision of the network management zone's health.Monitoring server 650 interfaces permits detecting errors on serverNetwork Interface Cards (NIC's), such as duplex issues or collisions.Monitoring server interfaces for usage shows when there's no usage onservers, supporting easy prediction of when there will be low usage onthe server.

Watching the usage of each Internet link 602 can help detect abnormalusage. Typically, most Internet links have a lot of inbound trafficflows for servicing web browsers and other inbound information requests.Strange outbound traffic flows during certain hours may indicateinappropriate usage, like a hacker or illegal file sharing on thenetwork. The management node 200 can track the utilization back to aspecific interface by checking each interface on the responsive resource600 for a matching pattern of utilization to locate the specific machinethat is generating the traffic.

The preceding embodiments provide examples of the invention and are notmeant to constrain the scope of the following claims.

1. A method for observing a network management zone, comprising thestep: creating a real-time estimate of at least one network parameterfor at least one responsive resource in said network management zone;and wherein each of said responsive resources in said network managementzone respond to said management protocol compatible with a version of aSimple Network Management Protocol (SNMP); wherein the step creatingsaid real-time estimate, further comprises the steps: sending at leastone request in a management protocol to said responsive resource at atransmission time; measuring a response to said request from saidresponsive resource based upon said transmission time to contribute tosaid real-time estimate of said network parameter; and measuring anon-response to said request from said responsive resource after atime-out from said transmission time to further contribute to saidreal-time estimate of said network parameter.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein said version of said SNMP includes at least one member of thegroup consisting of: SNMP v1, SNMP v2c, and SNMP v3.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said management protocol is compatible with a nationalstandard in at least one member of the group consisting of: MainlandChina, and India.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said real-timeestimate is based upon said requests with said transmission time withinthe last N minutes.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said responsiveresource implements at least one member of the group consisting of: aserver, a router, a bridge, a switch, a firewall, a wireless router, abase station, a wireless hub, a workstation, a cable modem, a DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL) modem, a Voice over IO (VoIP) phone, a videoconferencing station, a VoIP gateway, an analog telephony attachment,and a Public Branch exchange.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein saidnetwork management zone further includes a link between a first of saidresponsive resources as a first responsive resource and a second of saidresponsive resources as a second responsive resource.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the step creating said real-time estimate of saidnetwork parameter for said at least one responsive resource, furthercomprises the step: creating said real-time estimate of said networkparameter for said second responsive resource via said link to saidfirst responsive resource; wherein the step sending said request to saidresponsive resource, further comprises the step: sending said request insaid management protocol to said second responsive resource at atransmission time via said first responsive resource and via said link;and wherein the step measuring said response from said responsiveresource, further comprises the step: measuring said response to saidrequest from said first responsive resource via said link from saidsecond responsive resource.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said linkemploys at least one instance of at least one member of the groupconsisting of the members: a wireless physical transport and a wirelinephysical transport.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said wirelessphysical transport includes a radio frequency physical transport, amicro-wave frequency physical transport, a light frequency physicaltransport, an infra-red frequency physical transport, and an ultrasonicphysical transport; wherein said wireline physical transport includes awire-based physical transport, a waveguide physical transport, and anoptical fiber physical transport.
 10. The method of claim 6, whereinsaid network parameter is a member of the network parameter groupconsisting of the members: a packet loss including at least one memberof the group consisting of a resource packet loss for said responsiveresource; a link packet loss for said link; and a message packet lossfor a message; a latency, including at least one member of the groupconsisting of: a latency for said responsive resource; a unidirectionallatency to said first responsive resource through said link to saidsecond responsive resources; a bidirectional latency between said firstresponsive resource through said link to said second responsiveresource; and a message latency for said message; a jitter, including atleast one member of the group consisting of: a latency jitter as avariance of said latency; a unidirectional jitter as said variance ofsaid unidirectional latency; a bidirectional jitter as said variance ofsaid bidirectional latency; and a message latency jitter for saidvariance of said message latency; a link utilization capacity of saidlink; and a resource utilization capacity of said resource.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising at least one member of the groupconsisting of the steps: presenting said real-time estimate of said atleast one network parameter for said at least one responsive resource tocreate a resource map of said network management zone; altering at leastone of said responsive resources based upon said real-time estimate ofsaid at least one network parameter; and creating a service schedulerequest for said responsive resource based upon at least one of saidestimate of said network parameter.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinthe step presenting said real-time estimate further comprises at leastone member of the group consisting of the steps: updating a table basedupon at least one member of the response group consisting of: saidresponse and said non-response, both to said request to said responsiveresource; wherein said table contains said real-time estimate of saidnetwork parameter for said responsive resource at a time step, for atleast one of said responsive resources, for at least one of said networkparameters, and for at least two of said time steps integrating saidtable based upon an external real-time estimate of said networkparameter received from said responsive resource, for at least one ofsaid responsive resources and for at least one of said networkparameters; wherein the step altering said responsive resource, furthercomprises at least one member of the group consisting of the steps:sending a link configuration message to said responsive resource tocreate a link table entry in said responsive resource; sending a resetmessage to said responsive resource to reset said responsive resource;and sending a connectivity test message to said responsive resource tocreate a connectivity status message sent from said responsive resourceto said management node; and wherein said service schedule requestincludes at least one member of the service activity group consisting ofthe members: replace said responsive resource; replace a non-volatilestorage module included in said responsive resource; confirm a link forsaid responsive resource; create said link for said responsive resource;create said link table entry for said link in said responsive resource;and alter said link table entry for said link in said responsiveresource.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step:receiving a requested-service-completed message for said serviceschedule request.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said networkmanagement zone includes each of said responsive resources capable ofresponding to said request to said responsive resource.
 15. The methodof claim 14, wherein said network management zone, further includes: atleast one management node sending at least one of said requests to atleast one of said responsive resources in said network management zone.16. The method of claim 15, wherein said management node furtherreceives said responses to said requests from said responsive resources.17. The real-time estimate of the network parameter, as a product of theprocess of claim
 1. 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:constructing a quality of service measure based upon said real-timeestimate of at least two of said network parameters.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the step constructing said quality of service, furthercomprises the step: constructing said quality of service measure basedupon said real-time estimate of at least two of said network parametersand based upon a codec.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the stepconstructing said quality of service, further comprises the step:constructing said quality of service measure based upon said real-timeestimate of a latency, said real-time estimate of a jitter, saidreal-time estimate of a packet loss and based upon said codec.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein said quality of service measure is a versionof a Mean Opinion Score.
 22. The quality of service measure as a productof the process of claim
 18. 23. The management node implementing themethod of claim 16, comprising: means for creating said real-timeestimate of said at least one network parameter for said at least oneresponsive resource to said management protocol in said networkmanagement zone, further comprising: means for sending said at least onerequest in said management protocol to said responsive resource at saidtransmission time; means for measuring said response to said requestfrom said responsive resource based upon said transmission time tocontribute to said real-time estimate of said network parameter; andmeans for measuring said non-response to said request from saidresponsive resource after said TTL to further contribute to saidreal-time estimate of said network parameter.
 24. The management node ofclaim 23, further comprising: means for altering at least one of saidresponsive resources based upon said real-time estimate of said at leastone network parameter.
 25. The management node of claim 24, wherein saidmeans for altering, further comprises at least one member of the groupconsisting of: means for sending a link configuration message to saidresponsive resource to create a link table entry in said responsiveresource; means for sending a reset message to said responsive resourceto reset said responsive resource; and means for sending a connectivitytest message to said responsive resource to create a connectivity statusmessage sent from said responsive resource to said management node. 26.The management node of claim 25, wherein at least one member of thealtering message group is compatible with a version of the InternetControl Management Protocol (ICMP); and wherein said altering messagegroup consists of the members: said link configuration message, saidreset message, and said connectivity test message.
 27. The managementnode of claim 23, further comprising: means for presenting saidreal-time estimate of said at least one network parameter for said atleast one responsive resource to create a resource map of said networkmanagement zone.
 28. The management node of claim 27, wherein the meansfor presenting, comprising: a table containing said real-time estimateof said network parameter for said responsive resource at a time step,for each of said responsive resources, for each of said networkparameters, and for at least two of said time steps; and means forupdating said table based upon at least one member of the response groupconsisting of: said response and said non-response, both to said requestto said responsive resource.
 29. The management node of claim 28,wherein the means for presenting, further comprises: means fortranslating said table to a display template; and means for transferringsaid display template to a management screen presented to a networkmanager; means for collecting a network command response from saidnetwork manager based upon said management screen presenting saiddisplay template; means for directing network activities based upon saidnetwork command response.
 30. The management node of claim 29, whereinthe means for directing network activities, comprises at least onemember of the group consisting of: means for posting a first servicerequest for at least one of said responsive resources; means for postinga second service request for a link between a first of said responsiveresources and a second of said responsive resources; and means forposting a control message request to a means for altering at least oneof said responsive resources.
 31. The management node of claim 30,wherein the means for directing network activities, further comprises atleast one member of the group consisting of: means for tracking saidfirst service request for said responsive resource; means for trackingsaid second service request for said link between said first responsiveresource and said second responsive resource; and means for trackingsaid control message request to said means for altering said responsiveresource.
 32. The management node of claim 27, wherein at least onemember of the means group includes at least one instance of at least onemember of the group consisting of: a computer accessibly coupled to amemory and directed by a program system including at least one programstep residing in said memory; a finite state machine; and an inferentialengine; wherein said computer includes at least one instructionprocessor and at least one data processor; wherein each of said dataprocessors are at least partly directed by at least one of saidinstruction processors; wherein said means group, consists of: means forcreating, means for sending, means for measuring said response, saidmeans for measuring said non-response, a means for altering saidresponsive resource, a means for constructing a quality of servicemeasure based upon said real-time estimate of at least two of saidnetwork parameters, and said means for presenting.
 33. A program systemfor implementing the method of claim 1, comprising program stepsresiding in a non-volatile memory component; wherein said programsystem, further comprises at least one member of the group consisting ofthe program steps: creating said real-time estimate of said at least onenetwork parameter for said at least one responsive resource to saidmanagement protocol in said network management zone; presenting saidreal-time estimate of said at least one network parameter for said atleast one responsive resource to create a resource map of said networkmanagement zone; altering at least one of said responsive resourcesbased upon said real-time estimate of said at least one networkparameter; and creating a service schedule request for said responsiveresource based upon at least one of said estimate of said networkparameter.
 34. The program system of claim 33, wherein said non-volatilememory component includes at least one instance of at least one memberof the group consisting of: a semiconductor non-volatile memorycomponent, a magnetic non-volatile memory component, an opticalnon-volatile memory component, and a ferroelectric non-volatile memorycomponent.
 35. The program system of claim 33, wherein said non-volatilememory component installs the method through communicating with at leastone computer to create an installation of said program system in amemory accessibly coupled to said computer.
 36. The program system ofclaim 33, wherein said program steps are compatible with a computerlanguage belonging to at least one member of the computer language groupconsisting of: a markup language; an interpreted language; a scriptlanguage; and a machine language.
 37. The program system of claim 36,wherein said markup language, includes: a version of Hyper Text MarkupLanguage (HTML) and a version of Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML);wherein said interpreted language, includes: a version of Java, aversion of Basic, a version of Smalltalk, a version of Prolog, and aversion of LISP; wherein said script language, includes: a version ofPERL and a version of a shell script language; and wherein said machinelanguage, includes: a version of a Single Instruction Single Datapath(SISD) machine language, a version of a Single Instruction MultipleDatapath (SIMD) machine language, a version of a Multiple InstructionSingle Datapath (MISD) machine language, and a version of a MultipleInstruction Multiple Datapath (MIMD) machine language.
 38. The programsystem of claim 33, wherein the program step altering said responsiveresource, further comprises at least one member of the group consistingof the program steps: sending a link configuration message to saidresponsive resource to create a link table entry in said responsiveresource; sending a reset message to said responsive resource to resetsaid responsive resource; and sending a connectivity test message tosaid responsive resource to create a connectivity status message sentfrom said responsive resource to said management node; and wherein theservice schedule request includes at least one member of the serviceactivity group consisting of the members: replace said responsiveresource; replace a non-volatile storage module included in saidresponsive resource; confirm at least one link for said responsiveresource; create said link for said responsive resource; create saidlink table entry for said link in said responsive resource; and altersaid link table entry for said link in said responsive resource.
 39. Theprogram system of claim VV19, further comprising the program step:receiving a requested-service-completed message for said serviceschedule request.
 40. An installation package for communicating themethod of claim 1, comprising at least one member of the installationmeans group consisting of: means for installing the step creating saidreal-time estimate of said at least one network parameter for said atleast one responsive resource to said management protocol in saidnetwork management zone; means for installing the step presenting saidreal-time estimate of said at least one network parameter for said atleast one responsive resource to create a resource map of said networkmanagement zone; means for installing the step altering at least one ofsaid responsive resources based upon said real-time estimate of said atleast one network parameter; and means for installing the step creatinga service schedule request for said responsive resource based upon atleast one of said estimate of said network parameter.
 41. Theinstallation package of claim 40, wherein a server communicates saidinstallation package to create said management node.
 42. Theinstallation package of claim 40, houses in a non-volatile memorycomponent.